Video Pilot Editor SOW
Quote Request — Creative Partner Fulfillment · Project Ref LQTOVKQI
1.What I Need From You
A firm quote (lump sum + itemized) on the video pilot below, plus your proposed timeline. Two scope inputs are still pending from the client and I'll forward those the moment they land — for now quote against the estimates and we'll firm up at SOW sign.
⚠️ Client confidentiality: Please reference this project only as Project LQTOVKQI in all correspondence. Do not reach out to the client directly — all communication routes through Creative Partner.
2.Client Industry + Project Overview
Industry. Commercial foodservice equipment installation & service. B2B field-service contractor working as a 1099 subcontractor through a national facilities-management aggregator. The client removes and installs commercial bakery and deli equipment — bakery ovens up to 4,000 lb (pickup-truck-sized), rack washers, pan washers, hot cases, fryers — at national big-box retail bakery/deli departments and independent bakeries across the eastern US. Multi-state service area east of Mississippi, 2-5 day jobs, 16-20 hour shifts.
Why this content exists. Build a social-content library to drive brand awareness for the trade and set up a future channel for refurbished-equipment resale to small bakeries. This is the content pilot before ongoing retainer.
Project scope. 6 short videos cut from client-shot raw footage. Time-lapse + before/after style. No audio.
3.Reference Images from Client
Sample equipment and job-site photos provided by the client. These show typical scale + work conditions so you can budget for color-grade, framing, and footage variety.
4.Deliverables
| # | Format | Aspect | Length | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vertical | 9:16 | 30-60s | TikTok / Reels / Shorts |
| 2 | Vertical | 9:16 | 30-60s | TikTok / Reels / Shorts |
| 3 | Vertical | 9:16 | 30-60s | TikTok / Reels / Shorts |
| 4 | Vertical | 9:16 | 30-60s | TikTok / Reels / Shorts |
| 5 | Vertical | 9:16 | 30-60s | TikTok / Reels / Shorts |
| 6 | Horizontal | 16:9 | ~2 min | FB / LinkedIn — same content as one of the vertical pieces, presented in long form for the wider-platform format comparison |
One job → six videos. Client shoots one full equipment removal + install over 2-5 days. You cut all six pieces from that single batch of raw footage. Future months will repeat the pattern with new jobs.
The 6 pilot videos are split into two treatment variants so we gather hard completion-rate + save-rate data for Phase 2.
- Path A — 4 videos: Ambient process audio (hero) + music underneath + tactical on-screen captions. No voiceover. Aligns with the ASMR/sensory-content algorithm pattern that drives >70% completion through the 75% mark.
- Path B — 2 videos: Path A foundation + light AI voiceover on 2-3 hook/payoff lines per video only (NOT full narration). Low-pitch, calm AI voice (ElevenLabs-equivalent), used to test completion-rate lift against Path A.
Same raw footage, two treatment variants. After release we measure save rate + completion rate to lock in the format for the ongoing engagement. Editor should price both paths separately — see Section 12.
Editor receives approximately 20 hours of raw footage from a single job (often shot across 2-5 days). Multi-camera: static tripod cam + body-worn hat-clip cam + optional AI-tracking (OBSBOT Tail Air) third angle. Editor reviews all 20 hours, logs highlights, selects + cuts down to 6 finished short pieces.
This 20 → 6 ratio is what we need your quote to address directly. Footage volume is the labor question — please tell us specifically how you'll handle the review/log step efficiently on this scale.
Client is confirming the 20-hour estimate this week. If it lands materially different (10 hrs / 40 hrs), we'll revise the SOW before sign-off. Quote against the 20-hour estimate.
5.Style + Tone Direction
- Format core: time-lapse + before/after of large commercial equipment removal & install
- Tone: gritty, real, satisfying-process, no-nonsense. Construction / blue-collar trade aesthetic. Think equipment-restoration or factory-process channels.
- Pacing: punchy for the verticals (snappy cuts, jump-cuts on hits, satisfying reveals); slower / more documentary for the 2-min horizontal
- Style reference links PENDING FROM CLIENT — Client is sending 3-5 TikTok/YouTube examples of channels they like. I'll forward when received. Quote against your best read; tone alignment confirmed when refs land.
6.Raw Footage You'll Receive
- Volume: ~20 hours per first batch (confirm pending)
- Format: 4K MP4 (H.264), GoPro Hero 13 Black + OBSBOT Tail Air output
- Camera angles: 2-3 simultaneous — (a) static tripod wide-shot of work area, (b) body-worn hat-clip POV, (c) optional AI-tracking 3rd angle
- Audio: ambient process audio captured INTENTIONALLY on the cameras' built-in mics (impact wrenches, metal-on-metal, steam release, motor lifts, equipment movement). This is the sensory-content engagement engine — it stays in the final mix.
Client's voice will be present in the raw audio (breathing, occasional language) and must be suppressed in post using Adobe Podcast Enhance, iZotope RX 11 Voice De-noise, or equivalent — preserve mechanical/ambient, remove voice content. No audio sync needed between camera angles; cut visual-only on action beats. - Variability: lighting goes indoor commercial (decent fluorescent) → outdoor loading dock → rooftop exhaust work → under-equipment crawling. Auto-exposure on the cameras handles most of it; editor color-grade pass should normalize.
- Delivery: Client uploads to Frame.io or WeTransfer Pro. We'll provision.
7.Brand Assets
- Logo: Client may or may not have one. If absent, design a simple text-based lower-third lockup consistent with construction/trade aesthetic (Creative Partner will provide brand details on quote acceptance).
- Colors / fonts: None confirmed. Use a workhorse industrial palette (charcoal / orange-accent or similar) until brand assets land post-pilot.
- Captions: Default to subtitle-style burn-in on all 6 videos (most TikTok content needs them for sound-off viewing). Editor's call on style — modernist sans-serif, 1-2 lines max, centered or bottom-third. Client revises if they want different.
- On-screen process labels: Editor's discretion on the first cut. If you choose to add ("Disconnecting gas line", "800 lb motor lift", measurement call-outs, etc.) — keep minimal, only for moments that genuinely need explanation. Less is more for this aesthetic.
8.Audio Strategy (Data-Backed)
We're optimizing for completion rate + save rate — the two signals the TikTok algorithm weights as primary distribution drivers in 2026. For sensory/process content the data points to a 3-layer audio approach plus the A/B treatment split described in Section 4.
Layer 1 — Ambient process audio (hero)
- Captured by camera mics on-site (no extra gear). The mechanical sounds — impact wrenches, metal-on-metal, steam release, motor lifts — ARE the satisfying-process engagement engine for this niche.
- Voice suppression pass in post (Adobe Podcast Enhance / iZotope RX 11) removes client voice while preserving ambient. Client doesn't want his voice heard; the equipment sounds stay.
- Ambient is the hero layer in the final mix — music sits underneath.
Layer 2 — Music (supporting)
- Library: Royalty-free — Artlist or Musicbed on our license. Editor selects, sends preview to Chad → Chad sends to Client → Client approves.
- Mix level: Roughly -18 dB under ambient — music carries pace + emotional tempo without burying the mechanical sounds.
- SFX: Minimal whoosh / impact / button-clicks where they enhance, not where they distract. No cheesy stock sound design.
Layer 3 — Captions + tactical on-screen text
- Captions: burn-in subtitles for the few times text appears (NOT a full transcript — clutter underperforms).
- Tactical text cards: 3-5 per 30-second video, sparse and readable. Numbers + scale: "4,000 lb oven", "$30K replacement", "Day 2 of 3", "Most people never see this." Hook caption in first 1-2 seconds.
Path B variant — Light AI VO (2 of 6 videos only)
- 2-3 lines per video MAX, used on opening hook + midpoint stat + closing payoff only. NOT full narration.
- Low-pitch calm AI voice (ElevenLabs or equivalent). Avoid the cheesy TikTok narrator voice.
- Project remains creator-directed — the data shows AI VO with visible human creative direction recovers ~80% of the engagement gap between pure AI VO (1.9%) and human-driven content (3.4%), landing around 3.1%. Worth testing on 2 of 6 to get real numbers for Phase 2.
- Same ambient + music + captions foundation as Path A — AI VO sits on top of the existing mix.
Why ambient + light AI VO instead of "no audio":
- 85% of FB video is watched silent — captioned silent CAN work for awareness (Digiday)
- BUT TikTok algorithm rewards completion rate; sensory content needs ambient to hit >70% through 75% mark (ASMR algorithm patterns)
- Pure AI VO: 1.9% engagement vs 3.4% human (45% penalty) — but AI VO with human creative direction recovers to 3.1% (ReelBase data)
- Captioned videos: +17% watch time, +23% likes vs uncaptioned. 42% of TikTok users prefer captions ON even when audio is available (TTS Vibes)
9.Revisions + Timeline
- 2 revision rounds per video included in flat rate. Per-revision-round overage cost stated in your quote.
- Turnaround target: 10 business days from footage receipt to first cut of all 6 videos. 3 business days for each revision round.
- This is the FIRST batch. We expect to convert to ongoing engagement after Client sees the pilot — please include a per-video unit price for an ongoing monthly engagement in your quote.
10.File Delivery
- Master: 4K H.264 MP4 (final delivery resolution)
- Social-optimized: 1080p H.264 MP4 for direct platform upload
- ProRes: provide on request if Client wants editable masters
- Naming convention:
lqtovkqi-{job-type}-{aspect}-{duration}-v{N}.mp4(e.g.,lqtovkqi-bakery-oven-vertical-30s-v1.mp4) - Delivery channel: Frame.io for review approval; WeTransfer Pro for final downloads
- Usage rights: Client owns the final masters in perpetuity. Editor retains portfolio rights (anonymized if requested — but won't be required here).
11.Payment Terms
50% on SOW acceptance, 50% on final delivery — or your standard structure, whichever you prefer. State in your quote.
12.What Your Quote Should Include
- Total cost (lump sum) for the pilot batch
- Itemized breakdown: editing labor / footage review-and-log / color / motion graphics / music license / project management
- Your approach to the 20-hour-raw → 6-video labor question — specifically how you'll efficiently review and log 20 hours
- Proposed timeline (first cut + revisions + final)
- Two portfolio examples in adjacent styles — construction / time-lapse / trade content preferred
- Per-video unit price for ongoing monthly engagement after pilot
- Per-revision-round overage cost beyond the 2 included
- Path A vs Path B pricing split: baseline rate per Path A video (4 videos) + add-on cost per Path B video (2 videos with light AI VO on 2-3 lines)
- Voice suppression labor cost per video — Adobe Podcast Enhance / iZotope RX 11 pass to remove client voice while preserving ambient. State if your studio has the tools in-house or if this routes through a third party.
- AI VO tool access — do you have ElevenLabs (or equivalent) on subscription, or do we need to provide voice generation? Note your preferred AI VO platform.
- Any flags or scope concerns based on what you read above — don't be polite, call them out. Specifically: if you have a strong opinion AGAINST the Path A / Path B split, flag it.
13.Out of Scope (This SOW)
- Channel management (FB, TikTok account setup + posting cadence + community management) — separate workstream after pilot lands
- Strategy / copywriting for posts — separate workstream
- Paid amplification — separate
- Equipment / camera purchase — Client buys their own gear direct from B&H Photo (we recommend specific bundles separately)
- IP / OEM legal review — separate; Client warrants in their agreement that no contractual restriction exists on filming their work
14.Inputs Still Pending From Client
Informational — don't block your quote on these. We'll fold into the final SOW once they arrive.
| Input | Expected | Effect on scope |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed footage volume estimate | This week | If materially > 20 hrs, SOW + price revised before sign-off |
| 3-5 style reference TikTok/YouTube links | This week | Tone alignment confirmation; no quote change unless extreme outlier |